Warriors vs. Trailblazers - Time to Clinch the Playoffs!

<div class="quote_poster">The Legend Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Congrats to the Warriors, but this is the exact reason why i think the Warriors will not pull the upset off. You guys and the Warriors themselves are so happy just to make the playoffs. If they even get a win in the playoffs they will feel as if they are the Champions. Sorry for the negativeness.. but i just had to throw that in. But, even if they do lose in the 1st round. This a memorable season for them</div>

I would agree with this statement, say if the coach had no playoff experience, and maybe if the playoffs started tomorrow or something. But Don Nelson has tons of experience in the playoffs and he knows what's necessary to get ready for post-season play. The Warriors, right now, are extremely hot, compared to say the Lakers (by the way thanks for winning the 7th spot, which potentially gives the Warriors an easier route through the playoffs) who have struggled a lot recently.

Right now the Warriors are one of the top three hottest teams in the NBA if not one of the top two hottest teams in the NBA only behind San Antonio; they are getting strong contribution from many players from the many scoring options on the team; they are passing the ball amazingly and causing a lot of turnovers defensively well which is apparent through the statisitcs recently in the many assists and very few turnovers they have had and from being among the league leaders in steals and blocks; and The Oracle Arena may becoming one of the best homecourt advantages in the NBA (though each team in the playoffs I would imagine has a decent home court advantage). Plus the team has like a day to rest, and a couple more days to prepare for the playoffs which start on Sunday; to regroup and focus this emotion and their attention to the playoffs. If the Warriors lose, I don't believe it will be the effect of lack of preparation and too much excitement and celebration after making the playoffs last night.

I do agree that this has been a memorable season. If nothing else, it is good to see this young team make the playoffs to get that playoff experience under their belt for future seasons, to hopefully make it a habit (though the West will certainly get more difficult next season so I am not going to get too much into that now). It's good that this team has Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, and Don Nelson being key contributors because they have the post season experience; it may not be a lot, but it's more (and better) than nothing.

This is going to be fun - a repeat of 1975 anyone? (lol as if I were alive then, which I wasn't: but I know according to Rick Barry it was one of the greatest -and most overlooked if you go with Barry's thoughts- upsets in sports history)

 

<div class="quote_poster">The Legend Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Congrats to the Warriors, but this is the exact reason why i think the Warriors will not pull the upset off. You guys and the Warriors themselves are so happy just to make the playoffs. If they even get a win in the playoffs they will feel as if they are the Champions. Sorry for the negativeness.. but i just had to throw that in. But, even if they do lose in the 1st round. This a memorable season for them</div>

If you had been waiting 12 years to bust a nut, you'd be pretty happy too.

BTW, I have the Lakers getting swept in the first round. How do you figure they'll do?

 

Congrats to the Warriors (and their fans) for making it to "real season".

I look forward to a highly-entertaining series between the Mavs and the Warriors. We have some intriguing story lines to consider:
1) Can Nelson upend the original team he resurrected?
2) Who can impose their tempo/playing style more effectively?
3) Are the Warriors really in the Mavs heads after having beaten them in the regular season 3-0?
4) Are the Warriors content to having just made it?

We will have at most 7 games to find out all the answers.

 

oh man i am so excited...to think, a couple weeks ago, i had basically conceded the season. i didn't want to be heartbroken. instead, the boys pulled it off. we still have a tough task on hand, however, let's see what kind of damage this squad can do in the playoffs.

 

Congrats to the Warriors. They are one of my favorite teams to watch and even though it's going to be incredibly difficult to beat Dallas, they are talented enough and ahave the perfect coach to do so.

 

All right, first of all you guys make me seem like a Warrior hater. Which I'am not because I too live in the Bay Area as some of you do. I want to see the Warriors upset Dallas as much as the next fan. But, i'm thinking smart and that is why i do not think they can pull an upset of.

<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Do you think the Lakers will pull off an upset or something?</div>
I have one thing to that, we have Kobe Bryant. Also, I belive we could beat the Suns if everybody steps up. But, again im not being bias and saying they could. I really do not think they will, unless they play like they did at the beggining of the season.

<div class="quote_poster">Wild Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If you had been waiting 12 years to bust a nut, you'd be pretty happy too.

BTW, I have the Lakers getting swept in the first round. How do you figure they'll do?

</div>
I can tell you this, the Lakers are not going to get swept. The worst a loss in 5 games.

<div class="quote_poster">Clif25 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I would agree with this statement, say if the coach had no playoff experience, and maybe if the playoffs started tomorrow or something. But Don Nelson has tons of experience in the playoffs and he knows what's necessary to get ready for post-season play. The Warriors, right now, are extremely hot, compared to say the Lakers (by the way thanks for winning the 7th spot, which potentially gives the Warriors an easier route through the playoffs) who have struggled a lot recently.

Right now the Warriors are one of the top three hottest teams in the NBA if not one of the top two hottest teams in the NBA only behind San Antonio; they are getting strong contribution from many players from the many scoring options on the team; they are passing the ball amazingly and causing a lot of turnovers defensively well which is apparent through the statisitcs recently in the many assists and very few turnovers they have had and from being among the league leaders in steals and blocks; and The Oracle Arena may becoming one of the best homecourt advantages in the NBA (though each team in the playoffs I would imagine has a decent home court advantage). Plus the team has like a day to rest, and a couple more days to prepare for the playoffs which start on Sunday; to regroup and focus this emotion and their attention to the playoffs. If the Warriors lose, I don't believe it will be the effect of lack of preparation and too much excitement and celebration after making the playoffs last night.

I do agree that this has been a memorable season. If nothing else, it is good to see this young team make the playoffs to get that playoff experience under their belt for future seasons, to hopefully make it a habit (though the West will certainly get more difficult next season so I am not going to get too much into that now). It's good that this team has Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, and Don Nelson being key contributors because they have the post season experience; it may not be a lot, but it's more (and better) than nothing.

This is going to be fun - a repeat of 1975 anyone? (lol as if I were alive then, which I wasn't: but I know according to Rick Barry it was one of the greatest -and most overlooked if you go with Barry's thoughts- upsets in sports history)</div>

I agree with everything you have said. But, do you really think the Mavericks would slip up in the playoffs. Nelli might know how Dirk plays, so I think Dirk won't be a major factor. But, there are other players that will step up as Devin Hariss and Jerry Stackhouse. As again, you guys should be really happy to just get the experince. If they continue to get in the playoffs after this year and move up in Rankings. This would have been the come out year for a soon to be Elite team.

 

<div class="quote_poster">The Legend Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">All right, first of all you guys make me seem like a Warrior hater. Which I'am not because I too live in the Bay Area as some of you do. I want to see the Warriors upset Dallas as much as the next fan. But, i'm thinking smart and that is why i do not think they can pull an upset of.


I have one thing to that, we have Kobe Bryant. Also, I belive we could beat the Suns if everybody steps up. But, again im not being bias and saying they could. I really do not think they will, unless they play like they did at the beggining of the season.


I can tell you this, the Lakers are not going to get swept. The worst a loss in 5 games.



I agree with everything you have said. But, do you really think the Mavericks would slip up in the playoffs. Nelli might know how Dirk plays, so I think Dirk won't be a major factor. But, there are other players that will step up as Devin Hariss and Jerry Stackhouse. As again, you guys should be really happy to just get the experince. If they continue to get in the playoffs after this year and move up in Rankings. This would have been the come out year for a soon to be Elite team.</div>

I agree with you about the Lakers having Kobe Bryant. They are going to play good basketball. This is a Phil Jackson basketball team. I would call you a fool or crazy (well name-calling isn't one of my things, so maybe I'd only think it) to think that one of his teams will come out looking out of sync and flat in the playoffs. Maybe this is a different team, but I remember last year the Lakers played tremendous basketball in the playoffs against the Suns. This season the Suns will have Amare back, but I don't think that is going to keep Los Angeles from playing solid ball. If the Lakers can control the pace like they did last season, I can see them doing quite fine against the Suns.

As far as Warriors/Mavs:Well I think the Warriors can play their style of defense when then may cause the Mavericks to slip up. The Mavericks could slip up; I mean the Warriors beat up the Mavericks pretty bad the last game they played when both starting lineups were playing and it was a normal season game. I am not going to bet on anything this playoff season. The first round is filled with awesome matchups both in the East and West. I am just going to enjoy it, and for the first time watching my team, the Warriors, do what they do in the "real" season, or whatever you guys call it, hah. Right now, I think the Warriors can out-Maverick, the Mavericks. I think the matchups are good and tight, and may even very slightly favor the Warriors. The Warriors can really challenge the ball handlers on the Mavericks and give them a good showing. We'll see. There is definitley the case where even the Warriors may slip-up as well. I think for an 8th seed, the Warriors have a good shot this round, somewhere close but below 50-50 winning this round.

 

In terms of the Lakers. Last year the Lakers were hot going into the playoffs. This year they're not. Momentum is very important, especially if the team is not elite. I don't see the Lakers overcoming their chemistry problems and injuries (I think Walton, Brown, and Odom still have nagging injuries). Kobe will play well can keep them in it. We may see him average 50+ in the playoffs this year. The problem is that in the fourth quarter Kobe will struggle if he can't depend on his teammates, due to fatigue and double teams. I remember watching the Lakers versus the Clippers both times at the end of the season and every time Kobe dominated through 3, kept his team close, but fell apart in the fourth.

 

<div class="quote_poster">kingrex Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Congrats to the Warriors (and their fans) for making it to "real season".

I look forward to a highly-entertaining series between the Mavs and the Warriors. We have some intriguing story lines to consider:
1) Can Nelson upend the original team he resurrected?
2) Who can impose their tempo/playing style more effectively?
3) Are the Warriors really in the Mavs heads after having beaten them in the regular season 3-0?
4) Are the Warriors content to having just made it?

We will have at most 7 games to find out all the answers.</div>

Thanks. I hope it will be an entertaining series and not just a blow out by the Mavs. They're favored and with good reason. That said, the Warriors could give the Mavs some problems if Baron, JRich, SJax, AL, and Barnes or MP off the bench are hitting their outside and 3-pt shots. It seems Dallas has a difficult time trying to cover the perimeter in a running game. As for the Warriors winning record against the Mavs, I don't think it will play a part in the playoffs. Things could get slowed down in the playoffs, so Dallas could grind out the needed victories.

Now on to your questions.

1. Nellie is very innovative when it comes to taking advantage of matchups, so he could contribute in this area. Also, he's experienced in the playoffs, so he won't be likely to make many mistakes. It may be different for the players, as only Baron, SJax and AL have playoff experience. I rate it even between Nelson and Avery Johnson as coaches because AJ has experience from going to the Finals last year and he has the better players to work with.

2. This is a tough question. The Warriors will try to establish the tempo, but Dallas could take control if they are able to establish boards early and wear the Warriors down.

3. I gotta think there is some effect, but it's probably not be enough to make a difference. Playoffs are the second season and different strategies and play are expected. Dallas is pretty deep. The Warriors are deep, as well, but don't have the same amount of playoff experience.

4. I hope the team isn't, but most fans are. For example, I met my wife, had two kids and got divorced (last year) in the period since the Warriors last made the playoffs. Warriors' fans stories about what they were doing when the Warriors last made the playoffs are outrageous. We'll savor just making the playoffs for some time.

Good luck to your team in the playoffs and may the best team win. Hopefully, the Warriors .

P.S. It will be great if it goes 7 for the Warriors, but I don't know if it will be the same for the Mavs.

 

I heard Tim Roye say last night the Warriors ended the season with 16 wins in the last 21 games. That's a winning percentage of .762 which is better than the Phoenix Suns. The Warriors won't be able to keep it up for the whole season, but how good do you think they will be next year? I think they can end up with a record like the Utah Jazz, i.e. 50 wins, if they get a PF like AK-47. We need a stud PF via the draft or trade.

 

Ak47 at power forward might be a stretch for some matchups... He weighs less than Richardson, and we also have to worry about contract size and injuries... Would the Sonics ever part with Chris Wilcox, maybe? He could be a 16 and 8 guy and bring more immediate impact than Josh Powell. He's more of a C in terms of skillset, but he's as fast as a Kenyon Martin type PF. After seeing Pietrus and Barnes operate, it's possible we could still win with a big guy that doesn't quite understand the game just yet. At least he puts up numbers.

 

The odds are stacked against the Warriors, but if they pull off an upset quite frankly I wouldn't be too suprised. The Warriors are a team that can really run a team out of the building if they are let wild on offence.

Jason Richardson is a class-act and is my favourite player in the league; I'm glad he finally was able to get to the post-season.

Just wanted to pop by the Warriors forum since I've been lurking around here without posting for quite some time. I can't really say I'm a diehard fan but I love the Warriors and the fans here remind me of Raptor fans (cheering for perennial losers that are finally getting somehwere)

Good luck in the playoffs, I'll be rooting for you guys.

 

<div class="quote_poster">jason voorhees Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I heard Tim Roye say last night the Warriors ended the season with 16 wins in the last 21 games. That's a winning percentage of .762 which is better than the Phoenix Suns. The Warriors won't be able to keep it up for the whole season, but how good do you think they will be next year? I think they can end up with a record like the Utah Jazz, i.e. 50 wins, if they get a PF like AK-47. We need a stud PF via the draft or trade.</div>

Next season will be very difficult to predict, probably more-so than this season. The Hornets will most likely be better due to better health and a lottery pick; the Blazers have some very good young prospects and who knows, maybe something will just click for that team next season; and the Clippers and Kings can get better. Also who from the top eight is going to drop that much? Bynum will have another year's experience under his belt for the Lakers, which may turnout to be very dangerous. And the Jazz will probably have Sloan next season as head coach so you can't count them out. With how injury prone Baron Davis is, for me at least, it's difficult to make too many predictions for future seasons. I just hope the team can keep away from any injuries in the post season and take care of the opportunity at hand.

I think an interesting statistic is that the Warriors were 28-24 vs the West (14-16 vs the East), and 6-10 vs the Pacific, which makes them 22-14 vs the West outside of the Pacific Division. Statistically what I am saying is that, it's a good thing that the Warriors are the 8th seed facing a team outside of the Pacific Division (in particular either of the LA teams and the Suns) and in a bracket separated from the Spurs until, if fortunate enough, the Western Conference Finals.

I think the series comes down to whose bench out-performs the opponent's bench. As far as starting lineups I think there are strong arguments going for both sides if we compared the back-courts, front-courts, and wing players for which team gets the advantages in those areas. The bench for both of these teams on the other hand is probably an debate that I can't really predict which side would prevail. Pietrus is a player that has had a trend of playing very well against the Mavericks. Barnes is usually a hit or miss. Biedrins has had less production off the bench (but maybe he got some rest that way since he had played hard all season, so maybe he can bounce back for the post season to continue his awesome season). Azubuike is usually very productive as well. Also Foyle and Powell can add some help up front if needed. But the Mavericks bench I think could be the area that really propells the Mavericks in this series. Stackhouse, Harris, George (or Buckner), Croshere, Dampier,(or Diop), that rookie that played pretty well against the Warriors last time (I think his name is Ager), and Barea (who is not bad either) is the group of players that I think can come in and take the advantage needed to win this series for the Mavericks.

Again I think I'll stick with my statement: How high the Warriors' ceiling is, is dependent on Mickael Pietrus and for now in general, the bench (along with health, which is a given). If Pietrus comes in and plays like he was closer to the beginning of the season by knocking down crucial 3's, playing strong defense in the paint and on the perimeter with his man-to-man defense(especially against Howard or Dirk), and rebounding like heck then that boost will or would be tremendous for the Warriors. If he's not like this and the bench is absent, then that could spell trouble (big trouble) for the Warriors.

I think it's funny how Stephen Jackson is now that guy who played/started for the NBA champion Spurs team instead of the trouble-maker, immature Stephen Jackson from Indiana. I think that says a lot for Don Nelson in one way and the media in another light. Jackson has been a very pleasant treat for the Warriors indeed.

 

<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Ak47 at power forward might be a stretch for some matchups... He weighs less than Richardson, and we also have to worry about contract size and injuries... Would the Sonics ever part with Chris Wilcox, maybe? He could be a 16 and 8 guy and bring more immediate impact than Josh Powell. He's more of a C in terms of skillset, but he's as fast as a Kenyon Martin type PF. After seeing Pietrus and Barnes operate, it's possible we could still win with a big guy that doesn't quite understand the game just yet. At least he puts up numbers.</div>

It was just a knee jerk reaction for AK-47. I forgot about his injuries and big contract.

More players may want to join the Warriors since they have established a winning foundation now. The difficulty is we don't have enough cap space to sign free agents and you have to give up too much in trade. Wilcox will be tough for Seattle to give up because he had such big games down the stretch and was playing well for them during the season. There is a slim chance Wilcox will be available for trade if the Sonics want to free up some salary in order to extend Rashard Lewis (if he decides to opt out). More certain is Danny Fortson being available. Ugh!

 

I see Monta as a big key/x-factor in these playoffs. If he can not turn the ball over and hit his midrange jumper consistently (as well as his usual drives to the rim), he could be a weapon that is too much for the Mavs to handle. They just can't guard him anyway because he's too fast, and they can't double team him because the Warriors have too many other weapons that can hurt you if you leave them free to roam and cut. But if Monta's jumper is not falling, he becomes a lot easier to defend and it goes without saying that a string of unforced turnovers will kill you in the playoffs.